[[quoteright:320:[[http://kuksi.com/artworks/sculpture/church-tank-type-5a/39/ http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/church_tank_4898_9473.JPG]]]][[caption-width-right:320:Good morning, troper! Have you heard the good news?]]

->''"Hence it comes that all armed prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed prophets have been destroyed. For, besides the things that have been said, the nature of peoples is variable; and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them in that persuasion. And thus things must be ordered in such a mode that when they no longer believe, one can make them believe by force."''-->-- ''Literature/ThePrince'', '''Creator/NiccoloMachiavelli'''

The world often notes that certain groups take {{God}} and Guns with equal fervor. The Church Militant takes this observation to the natural conclusion, a [[ChristianityIsCatholic Catholic]] (or [[CrystalDragonJesus Catholic-like]]) superpower that is ''very'' heavily armed. This can be played in any number of ways- [[LightIsNotGood Light isn't always good]], and even when it is, [[GoodIsNotNice Good is not always nice]], and even when it is, [[GoodIsNotSoft Good isn't soft]].

Usually justified by the actual existence of [[WitchSpecies witches]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] or TheLegionsOfHell; nevertheless the Church Militant often struggles with [[KnightTemplar going too far]]. Don't expect heavy consistency with real world religious teachings, writers will make it up as they go along (c.f. TheLowestCosmicDenominator). {{Anime}} will just substitute in that NunsAreMikos.

The forces of a Church Militant vary widely depending on the nature of its foes and the type of world it exists in.

The most commonly associated troops for the Church Militant are its heavily armored, sword-slinging, holy-equipped special forces usually known as [[ThePaladin Paladins]]. Nuns with guns usually come halfway between this and AmazonBrigade. If there is a Fanatic branch of the Church Militant, expect the KnightTemplar, but also expect their zealotry to be tempered by the church hierarchy- orders with divine authority behind them are hard to ignore, and there is usually a larger war to win.

In a modern industrialized setting most clergy will rely on [[HandCannon Hand Cannons]], but since many breeds of [[TheUndead Undead]] and EldritchAbomination are ImmuneToBullets, expect at least a few priests and nuns of The Blessed Blade Sect to swing around a [[CoolSword broadsword]] or two. [[DualWielding Or three/six, which seems to be some kind of standard]].

Oftentimes, they might instead favor [[CarryABigStick the mace]], [[DropTheHammer hammer]], or [[SimpleStaff staff]] out of an alleged commitment to peace. This doctrine is espoused by the Order of the Blunt Instrument because ''theoretically'' bludgeoning weapons allow for [[TechnicalPacifist "just" beating the hell out of an opponent]], and they take a [[ExactWords "strict" view]] of the commandments against "spilling blood" or "taking up the sword." Also blunt weapons are cheap, and there are vows of poverty to consider.

In fantasy settings they'll probably also have [[ReligionIsMagic divine magic]], most often WhiteMagic. When a SaintlyChurch is involved, you can also expect the HolyHandGrenade, but when the Church militant is played as also being the CorruptChurch, BlackMagic may be used alongside or even substituted. Even in settings featuring a purely good church militant, the light side's magical bag of tricks isn't limited to HealingMagic, [[NonlethalWarfare stun spells]], and summoning puppies and rainbows- [[EnergyBall concentrated blasts of goodness]], [[LightEmUp cleansing light]], and [[BoltOfDivineRetribution Bolts of Divine Retribution]] are standard issue for The Order of Smiting. In the more liberal chapters, such as the Brothers of the Clandestine Operations, one might even find instances of TheSacredDarkness being put to work on the side of the faithful.

In more critical scenarios involving TheLegionsOfHell running rampant and hordes of undead terrorizing the countryside, {{Holy Hand Grenade}}s are mass produced, as are weapons MadeOfGood or [[SilverHasMysticPowers Silver]]. In case of [[BurnTheWitch Witch]] incursions and {{Heresy}}, expect [[KillItWithFire Flamethrowers]] and {{Flaming Sword}}s. Lots and lots of flame-based weapons to purify the sinful. And you can be sure that there are at least a few {{Fantastic Nuke}}s among the church's relics because [[ItsTheOnlyWayToBeSure there's only one way to be sure]] that nothing will ever use ''that'' HellGate again.

Individual members are usually [[HunterOfMonsters Hunters of Monsters]] or {{Warrior Monk}}s and can also be referred to as "church militants" (where "militant" is the noun). Note that this trope really only applies to Western theist/deist religions, as Eastern religions (Buddhism, Shinto, Tao, etc.) are almost always depicted as [[EverybodyWasKungFuFighting kung-fu-slinging]] warrior monks (sometimes Christian/[[CrystalDragonJesus Pseudo-Christian]] monks can be [[AllMonksKnowKungFu kung-fu-slinging]] as well).

If a Church Militant exists as a StateSec [[OrganizationIndex subdivision]] of a larger, [[ActualPacifist predominantly pacifist]] Church, expect it to be called "The Inquisition" regardless of the fact that the RealLife inquisition was more like a detective and judicial branch of the Catholic Church (see also UsefulNotes/TheSpanishInquisition) than its military arm. See also KungFuJesus.

Not to be confused with CorruptChurch, where the religious folks are clearly the bad guys. Badass clergymen who are minorities amongst a meeker lot would be {{Badass Preacher}}s instead. Also not to be confused with the actual Catholic concept of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Militant Church Militant]] which comprises all believers still on Earth, as compared with the Church Triumphant, the believers in Heaven. Here, the "militant" refers not to actual violence but the spiritual combat that believers undergo to thwart the Devil and his temptations so as to become a member of the Church Triumphant.

The moral questions surrounding the idea of religious authorities advocating violence have been around since the beginning of monotheism. Polytheistic religions generally don't result in MoralDissonance, instead delegating war behavior to [[WarGod deities who are specifically devoted to kicking ass]]. Monotheistic religions, on the other hand, have always had the problem of reconciling a loving God (assuming He is loving to begin with) with the specifically unloving human behavior that is intrinsic to warfare. Sometimes it is based on the idea that wrongdoers and criminals, domestic or cosmic, [[Main/{{Criminals}} lose variably some or all of the protection of God and society because of their bad actions]] and therefore should come quietly or be defeated. There is the philosophy that [[MartialPacifist self defense and the defense of others from bad guys - out of love]] for others - is acceptable and just in God's sight. It must also be understood that soldiers face death every day, and naturally have a vested interest in spiritual pursuits. Also, in general, non-Christian religions portrayed as {{Church Militant}}s are usually [[UnfortunateImplications frowned upon]].

{{Church Militant}}s often make use of SmiteEvil. The smitees may not appreciate this, and may strike back, e.g. through {{Religion Rant Song}}s or other means.

Has some overlap with NaughtyNuns, often in the form of 'Nunsploitation' films. One of the groups you may ask WhoYouGonnaCall when the Forces of Darkness strike.

For whatever it's worth, "Church Militant" is a Catholic term for the community of Christians – usually meaning Catholics specifically – currently engaged in spiritual "warfare" (in Latin, ''militant'' literally means "serving as a soldier") against sin and temptation on Earth – i.e, living Christians – as opposed to the Church Triumphant, who are enjoying their eternal reward in Heaven, and the Church Expectant or Penitent, who are undergoing temporary purification in Purgatory before upgrading their accommodations.

----!!Examples:

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[[folder:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]* The Black Order in ''Manga/DGrayMan''. [[WellIntentionedExtremist Willing to employ criminals, create homunculi and carry out human experimentation.]][[CrapsackWorld And even that's not enough.]]* ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' has both the Anglican Church and Catholics forming their own Churches Militant. Accusations of heresy and territorial claims mean their militants often clash if they meet, but they will sometimes delay fighting each other to fight vampires. Sometimes. Doesn't help that their trump cards display a BloodKnight mentality and will fight at the drop of a hat. The series eventually climaxes with the Vatican's 9th Crusade against the Nazis and, eventually, all of Protestant England. Maxwell even takes advantage of London's vulnerability to slaughter Protestant civilians, all in the name of God and the Catholic Church. Thankfully, [[spoiler: Father Anderson does ''not'' agree with that last option.]]* ''Manga/BlueExorcist'' have the True Cross Order, a BadassArmy of Exorcists from multiple religions confronting demons and such. [[DeconstructedTrope However]], they also have FantasticRacism, at least one major member is a full-blooded demon (and a ManipulativeBastard with millenniums of experience who sees and treats everyone as pawns despite nominally being "good"), and they tend to be [[KnightTemplar Knight Templars]] who started as '''[[ChildSoldier Child Soldiers]]'''. The fact they see the titular character, the resident AntiAntiChrist, as a threat might even ''make'' him a threat if they don't kill him first!* ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'' features a religious order whose role is to serve as the Church Militant. As one might expect, the main character is a member of said order. The Order tolerate Rosette's DealWithTheDevil on the grounds that 1) he's a sweetheart, okay? 2) the girl has a mission and she can't get out of it now, anyway, and 3) [[CombatPragmatist look, demon kill demon, we happy]], ''okay''? Until Remington is forced to [[spoiler: stage [[NobleDemon Chrono]]'s death]] in the manga. Her ''immediate'' superiors don't object, but the higher-ups have gotten twitchy. Good times had by all as the good Father more or less pounds Chrono in the head with the situation after cool hints don't work.* In ''LightNovel/TrinityBlood'', the Vatican is one of the two major world military powers, the other being the vampire-led Empire. The latter, being based in Byzantium, bears a certain resemblance to the home base of the post-schism Eastern Orthodox church.* Nicholas D. Wolfwood, and specifically the Eye of Michael group from ''Manga/{{Trigun}}''. The latter are plant worshippers, which explains why they're willing to work for Knives. The representatives we see don't appear to worship anything except {{Gorn}} and MoreDakka. And posibly ForScience in the case of Original Chapel. Makes you kind of relieved that Wolfwood is so laid-back about his faith. Wolfwood introduces himself as a priest, and is carrying an large cross. When someone else tries to lift it, they comment on its heaviness. Wolfwood's response is "That's 'cause it's so full of mercy" ... which we later find out is in the form of one large automatic weapon and many handguns. Though it's never truly clear (in the anime, at least) whether he's ''really'' a priest or not.* The organization "Solomon" from ''Anime/WitchHunterRobin''.* ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' and ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', which take place in the [[Franchise/{{Nasuverse}} same world]], have a secret church organization called the Assembly of the Eighth Sacrament that hunts down heretics, which includes undead and rogue sorcerers. The Vatican consider it heretical, due to it's use of things like magecraft.\\It's divided into three sections** Executors such as [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kotomine Kirei]], are essentially the special forces, used for more precise operations ** Burial Agents are exceptional Executors that have specialized abilities like Ciel's HealingFactor, Mr. Dawn's [[GadgeteerGenius engineering]] and unparalleled exorcism, or Merem's [[DetachmentCombat De]][[OurDemonsAreDifferent mon]][[TheBeastmaster iti]][[SummonMagic on]]. There are only eight positions within the Burial Agency, and only seven are filled.[[note]]although number six is technically two people[[/note]] ** Knights like [[VideoGame/MeltyBlood Riesbyfe]] are an outright military that generally brute force their problems. They are exceptionally strong, having enough strength to casually crush human skulls.* The nuns on the Mahora campus of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' are all trained battlemages who make up school security in addition to more traditional duties.* Altena's faction of les Soldats in ''Anime/{{Noir}}'' aka "The Nuns With Guns".* The Ishvalans in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' have warrior-priests, followers of Ishvala who are also martial arts experts. It was stated that during the Ishval rebellion an unarmed Ishvalan warrior-priest could take down 10 fully armed Amestrian soldiers. Scar was a particularly strong one.* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' has Sister Schach, a kindly nun and battle-ready knight of the Belkan Saint Church. And after the post-[=StrikerS=] TimeSkip, [[spoiler: Sein, Otto, and Deed of the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Numbers Cyborgs]]]] have joined the Belkan Saint Church's ranks. There is also [[spoiler:Vivio]], [[CloneJesus literal Saint King of that church]], though she hates being called by her rank... And she IS called so. On a regular basis.* The original ''{{Moetan}}'' book's entry for the word "priest" recalls this trope: "The priest has a cross-shaped bazooka." Given its penchant for references, this is almost certainly an allusion to Wolfwood.* Mozgus in ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' fulfills this trope together with his followers. They take great pleasure in killing and torturing "heretics" at will. There's also the Holy Iron Chain Knights, a church-serving order of warriors who are mostly ornamental but nonetheless quite capable of kicking ass.* By episode 5 of ''Anime/{{Mnemosyne}}'', [[spoiler: Mimi]] has retired to a solitary life of a Buddhist nun. Thanks to [[EverythingTryingToKillYou various problems that an immortal faces]], her temple is outfitted with a [[FrickinLaserBeams laser]] [[LaserHallway cage]], and other immortal nuns who happen to know how to use [[{{Handguns}} guns]] and [[KatanasAreJustBetter katanas]].* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' has the "Church of Violence''. While it's unclear whether its members are actually religious or are just using the Church as a front for weapons smuggling, it still doesn't stop its members from toting a [[RefugeInAudacity ridiculously massive arsenal of weapons]] such as M60 machine guns and a gold plated Desert Eagle (wielded by a 70 something nun with one hand).* Subverted in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean''. While Enrico Pucci is an evil fighter priest, it is not out of fanaticism. In fact, he is a heretic who worships an evil vampire and abuses his status as a priest.** Church Militant still holds. As [[spoiler: his twin brother]] Weather Report (yes, that's his name) said, Enrico Pucci is not aware that he is evil. Which makes him creepier because he believes he's doing all these [[spoiler: beating up prisoners, pitting them against each other, siccing a gang on Weather Report to prevent his incestuous relationship with their little sister (both Weather and his sister were unaware of this incest), collecting Dio's sons, trying to revive the world without the Joestars...]] for the good of mankind.* ''Manga/AxisPowersHetalia'': Prussia's origins as the Monastic State of UsefulNotes/TheTeutonicKnights are acknowledged in his bio and some strips. Though God doesn't really seem to like him.* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''. Necessarius and most of the Church Organizations in Necessarius are a group of battle-priest/mages that protects England and the Puritan Church from any magical and scientific threat by using the one thing they tried to destroy in the past: Magic. They're also responsible for the compilation of Index-Librorium-Prohibitrum in Index's mind. There are three notorious Churches:** The Anglican Church, with Necessarius.** The Roman Catholic Church, with Agnese Forces and God's Right Seat.** The Russian Orthodox Church, with Annihilatus. But even then, [[AntiMagic Touma]] still [[HolyHandGrenade kicked/punched many of their asses]].* Subverted in ''Manga/{{Simoun}}'', where the church itself doesn't like that the military is forcing them to use their priestesses as killers, [[JustifiedTrope even if]] their prayers happen to be the most effective weapon Simulacrum has.* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': [[spoiler:Kyouko]] was one in the backstory. And the witch Elsa Maria has a fair amount of Christian imagery, and [[AllThereInTheManual secondary material]] suggests she views herself this way.* Subverted with ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing's'' Duo Maxwell; though he wears a priest's collar and kicks a lot of ass, he doesn't actually practice any religion. In [[AllThereInTheManual his backstory]] he was an orphan raised in a church, but one day tells the priest he doesn't believe in God but he does believe in [[{{Shinigami}} the God of Death]] because "I've never seen a miracle, but I've seen lots of dead people!" (The good-natured priest admits that he can't fault the boy's logic.) He wears the collar as a tribute to the priest and nun who raised him.* In ''LightNovel/IzureShinwaNoRagnarok'', the church is one of the two most influential organizations in the world and the protagonist, Raika, works for them to investigate the other organization, though he has his own reasons for doing so. The militant part comes into play when Raika displays the combat techniques they taught him, which are enough to survive against humans possessed by gods.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* ''ComicBook/WarriorNunAreala'' by Ben Dunn, an {{animesque}} comic focusing on a Catholic order of monster hunters. Before anime/manga (like ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'') or western comics, this series was the first to focus on such a topic.* [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/Stryker2.PNG William Stryker]], an infamous ''Comicbook/XMen'' villain, is a Christian fundamentalist televangelist who saw himself on a mission from God to eradicate the mutant race. During the "Second Coming" storyline, Stryker was shown to have a literal army of members from his "Church of Humanity", who used high-tech lasers and "weaponised rituals" against the mutants. The version in ''X-Men 2: X-Men United'' discarded this aspect, making him just a plain old militant.** In one storyline, Nightcrawler takes steps to become a priest.[[labelnote:spoiler: - click to reveal]]It turns out he's been mentally controlled into thinking he's becoming a priest by an extremely militant vaguely Catholic organization that plans to make him pope, and then use some sort of explosive-laced communion wafer that disintegrates people. This will then be the sign that the rapture has come and Nightcrawler's image inducer will be short-circuited, revealing his demonic appearance and leading everyone to believe the anti-Christ has taken over the church. Catholics don't actually believe in the Rapture, but still... anyway, it features a very militant church attempting to effectively take over the world.[[/labelnote]]* The ''Comicbook/{{Evangeline}}'' comics.* The ''ComicBook/Marvel2099'' line of comics included the Sisters Of The Howling Commandments, an order of nuns who modeled themselves after (and possibly worshiped) ComicBook/NickFury and The Howling Commandos.* Robert Kirkman's ''ComicBook/BattlePope'' is about a one-man version of this trope, though he does get help from others in the task.* Vol de Galle, eponymous character of ''Comicbook/TheMarquis'', is a former Catholic Inquisitor who fights demons that have infiltrated human society.* ComicBook/{{Azrael}} from Franchise/TheDCU, combined with ArtisticLicenseReligion, and [[UpToEleven even more so]] in the [[DarkerAndEdgier second series]].* Comicbook/{{Magdalena}} (originally from ''ComicBook/TheDarkness''), somewhat similarly, is a name passed on from generation to generation of nuns in a certain order that claims to have begun with Mary Magdalene herself.* ''ComicBook/TheBadger'' had a recurring character named "Sister Twister", a reformed Nazi transexual nun.** There's also a Sister Twister who was in the latest incarnation of the Comicbook/SuicideSquad. A woman with distorted features and the power to painfully contort other peoples' bodies, she found God and became a nun. However, her supervillain sadism is still not fully dulled; when asked if the old axiom of "it's better to give than to receive" also applies to ''pain'', she responds that while she hadn't thought of it that way she's ''very'' interested in applying it.* ''Comicbook/CanonFodder'' takes place in a future where the church and police forces have been consolidated into one, and follows a single very devout, not entirely sane priest as he attempts to destroy evil wherever he finds it.* The ''Comicbook/GhostRider'' comics give us the Deacon, a monster of a man who is so devout in his belief that he is saving sinners the [[MindRape Penance Stare]] has no effect on him. He eventually fights a nun-turned ally of Ghost Rider, with the PreAssKickingOneLiner of "Very well, woman. Let us pray."* The Confessor and the Crossbreed from ''ComicBook/AstroCity''. The Crossbreed in particular come off as a bunch of annoying fanatics. [[HiddenDepths Initially]].* Father Zee in ''ComicBook/ExMachina''. During a riot, someone yells out "RAISE HELL". Father Zee sucker punches him right in the face and says "If you say so". He frequently spars with Mayor Mitchell Hundred.* The Church of Christ Avenger from ''ComicBook/{{Ironwood}}''.* The Warrior Monks from ''ComicBook/LeScorpion''.* In ''ComicBook/WhiteSand'', there's a new group of warrior-priests in Kerztia whose debut on political scene is the slaughter of powerful sorcerous order of Sand Masters.* ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'': The two religious knightly orders of the empire, [[CorruptChurch the Knights of the Light]] (patterned after UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar) and [[SaintlyChurch the Knights of Justice]] (patterned after UsefulNotes/TheKnightsHospitallers). [[spoiler:Eventually, the former is absorbed by the latter after they try to overthrow the emperor.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanworks]]* ''Fanfic/{{Legionnaire}}'' has the Basiji and the Justicars, which are the religious police and the religious ''army'' respectively.* ''Fanfic/SavageSkies'' has the Cult Solar as one of the primary antagonists. Interestingly, the majority of the cult is not comprised of soldiers, it's just that Dawn Lightwing happens to be considered a demon and the ponies on top are willing to utilize lethal force.* The ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fics of Creator/AAPessimal posit that after the Brutha reforms described in the canonical ''Literature/SmallGods'', the horribly beweaponed and aggressive Divine Legions of Om mutated into something less ostensibly warlike, with the emphasis on the military bands playing the rousing old-tiume hymns backed by formation tambourine-rattling and collection-box-shaking, merely to ensure their continued survival in the new era. In fact, that they mutated into the Divine Legion of Salvation, an organisation rather like our own Salvation Army but taken UpToEleven. Interestingly, they went this way in canon too. [[note]]although WordOfGod is that the author considers this is coincidence, given the way Pessimal has been accused of thinking like Terry Pratchett and one or two readers have even asked - most flatteringly - if he is Terry himself trying his hand at fanfic...he is at pains to point out that he isn't. he doesn't have the money, for one thing, and writes for the fun of it. For now.[[/note]]* ''FanFic/QueenOfShadows'' has the Kamikiri tribe (Mantis Khan), who serve as the priests of the Shadowkhan, while still being as much {{Proud Warrior Race Guy}}s as the other tribes.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* ''Film/JesusChristVampireHunter'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.* ''Film/{{Braindead}}'' and its famous kung fu priest.* The 1998 Creator/DolphLundgren movie ''The Minion'' has the Knights Templar [[KnightTemplar (the organization, not the trope-type)]] survive into the present day as an AncientTradition tasked with preventing the awakening of the Anti-Christ. They used everything from [[PowerFist spiked cesti]] to [[{{BFG}} BFGs]].* In ''Film/JohnnyMnemonic'', Creator/DolphLundgren plays a cybernetically-enhanced assassin who poses as a WarriorMonk and rants about religion while he beats on his marks.* The vampire hunting teams from ''Film/JohnCarpentersVampires'' were sponsored by the Catholic Church.* ''Film/TheBoondockSaints'' are a variant of this trope. They don't fight the legions of hell (or at least not in any demonic implication), but they do themselves state religion as their reasoning (the 'inspirational' speech from the priest at the beginning) and go so far as to say their family prayer over their victims. It's also strongly implied they that they believe they are administering God's justice to evildoers.* The Grammaton Clerics of ''Film/{{Equilibrium}}'' use the trappings of this trope, although they serve a secular state.* ''Film/{{Freejack}}'' features a shotgun-toting, profanity-spewing nun who helps the protagonist. Some fans refer to her as [[FanNickname Sister Mary Shotgun]].* Something of an example occurs in two of the ''Film/{{Trinity}}'' Spaghetti Western films.** In the first movie, Trinity and his brother Bambino (both are criminals themselves) assist some Amish settlers in fighting off Mexican marauders who take advantage of their vow of peace. By the end of the movie, Bambino and Trinity have taught the religious people how to defend themselves. The movie ends with the Amish people making a stand for themselves and defeating the Mexicans.** In the second movie, Trinity and Bambino wind up in a monastery where several criminals are hiding and pretending to be monks. When Bambino asks the true monks to raise their hands, everyone raises their hands. Trinity responds by saying, "Every monk who is a monk, hit a monk that ain't a monk."* The organization Film/VanHelsing works for, comprised of the Vatican and representatives of other religions from around the world: one of their blacksmiths was noted saying "what in the name of ''Allah''."* ''Film/{{Priest 2011}}'': the titular "Priests" are a team of specialised, superhuman Vampire Hunters who are so aligned with combat that they have trouble fitting in when they are not needed.* ''Film/TheLastWitchHunter'' has Axe and Cross, Catholic Church-aligned organization set up to keep tabs on WitchSpecies. They have specialist prison, employ ClockPunk tech and have their own patterns of weapons - not to mention employing world's only immortal witch hunter.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* The Bright Hands from ''Literature/LadyOfGems'' qualify as they literally give up their humanity so they can become magically equipped to hunt down Feasters.* ''StrangerInAStrangeLand'' features "Fosterism", a parody of American televangelism on one level but very much Church Militant in a political sense.* The two ''[[Literature/HyperionCantos Endymion]]'' books by Creator/DanSimmons feature a rabid Vatican that exploits the resurrecting power of alien cruciforms to grant believers immortality. The Pope heads an aggressive crusade against "heretics" with interstellar warships, manned by Swiss Guard special forces.* In Bernard Cornwell's ''[[Literature/TheSaxonStories Saxon Stories]]'', there is a certain Father Pyrlig, who relies on people assuming fat men can't fight. Usually by the time they realise that they can, they're dead. There is also a OneSceneWonder Abbot, an ex soldier who the main character notices is carry a BFA (Like BFS but with an axe), a heavily used one with notches. When the narrator enquires after it, he is cheerfully told, "It is sent many a pagan to Hell, Lord." Since the Abbot has a large scar on his face, you believe it.* The Catholic organization Opus Dei as seen through the filter of ''Literature/TheDaVinciCode''. Various RealLife UsefulNotes/ConspiracyTheories place Opus Dei as in league with the Mafia, usually as money-launderers.* The Faith Militant, or Swords and Stars, in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' consists of two armed orders: the Warrior's Sons and the Poor Fellows. The former is made up of knights and nobles, while the latter's members are commoners. Both of these orders were banned for over two hundred years, [[spoiler:but Cersei Lannister resurrects them as part of a political bargain with the Faith. The carnage of the ongoing wars creates a major revival in religious fervor, causing both orders to swell in rank and rapidly become uncontrollable. By the end of ''A Feast for Crows,'' the results of an [[GambitPileup implosion of machinations]] include Cersei [[LaserGuidedKarma being arrested by the Faith]].]]** There are also the Bearded Priests of Norvos, who are famously armed with double-headed axes.* Creator/DavidEddings's ''[[Literature/TheElenium Elenium]]'':** The four Orders of the Church Knights are an organization of elite trained mage-warriors who were created to defend 'the West' from the sorcerers, demon-summoners and necromancers of the Evil Empire and its Cthulhu-esque god. The irony...they get their divine/magic powers from a ''different'' god than the one they supposedly worship; they don't worry about it. Amusingly, a proposed experiment with drawing upon the power of their ''own'' God (who is, after all, one of the most powerful and most distant deities) is quite strongly rejected by the party's clergyman.** The Church Knights are the most visible within the narrative, technically cloistered orders who are also exceptionally skilled fighters but there are also two other groups. The first and most numerous are the Church Soldiers, lay members who serve as guards for assorted Church leaders and properties, many of whom are little better than mercenaries in the employ of corrupt Church officials. The last is a small group dedicated to protecting and guarding the [[FantasyCounterpartCulture local pope analogue]] and have a much better reputation in terms of personal integrity.** Eddings plays this on both sides of the coin, really, as all of Cyrgon's priests were warriors as well. Even the evil god Azash tried this as well, as a counter to the Church Knights, but neither Azash nor his high priest Otha could really comprehend the realities of it; the former was too elemental-minded and the latter was... well, to put it bluntly, too stupid.* In Eddings's ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]''/''Mallorean'', Torak had the Grolim priesthood.* Brothers Benedict and Tobias of ''Literature/{{Revelations}}'' hail from such a group, which amazingly avoids being a gathering of {{Well Intentioned Extremist}}s, though more because all the "heroes" of Revelations do nasty things from time to time than from their own moderation.* Both played straight and subverted in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' with the three Knights of the Cross aka Knights of the Sword. Michael, the most prominently featured Knight, is a devout Catholic who fights demons, fallen angels, ghosts, vampires, dragons and evil sorcerers with a divinely powered sword and improbable luck courtesy of divine intervention. However, the other two Knights are a) a self-proclaimed agnostic who fights evil purely for the sake of serving the common good, and b) a Japanese man who was only baptized by accident (but tries to be a good Christian anyway now that he is one). Averting the usual KnightTemplar tendencies of Church Militants, all these Knights are practically {{Messianic Archetype}}s and try to save even the most twisted and corrupted of humans even if it means risking their lives for it. In fact, it's in the job description. And, as of ''Skin Game'', [[spoiler:Butters, a Jewish Knight of the Cross who fights evil with his faith... in [[Franchise/StarWars the Force]]]].* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':** The Omnian theocracy in the novel ''Discworld/SmallGods'' - combines the military-imperial aggression of medieval Islam with the paranoid doctrinal intolerance of medieval Catholicism. After the events of the book the religion mellows out somewhat, but is no less aggressively evangelical, so now Omnians travel door-to-door to distribute religious pamphlets and talk to people about Om. Most of their neighbors view this with equal dread, and end up [[TruthInTelevision hiding behind furniture]] when they see Omnian priests headed their way. This even extends to naming their children things like "Visit-The-Infidel-With-Explanatory-Pamphlets and "Smite-The-Unbeliever-With-Cunning-Arguments".** In ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'', Mightily-Praiseworthy-Are-Ye-Who-Exalteth-Om Oats lets the Magpyrs know that he has come to bring forgiveness ... and that "Forgiveness" happens to be the name of his large, double-bladed battle axe.** ''Literature/TheScienceOfDiscworld'' (Volume Four), it is revealed that the Omnian church has the uniformed and martial ''Sanitary Legion'' - an UpToEleven version of the Salvation Army, operating out of a Citadel in Ankh-Morpork. * Mike Carey's ''Literature/FelixCastor'' novels has the [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar Anathemata Curialis]], a militant and officially excommunicated group fighting the return of the undead, partly by using the undead themselves, or any other means available.* The Children of the Light/Whitecloaks in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', a militant religious organization resembling the Knights Templar and Crusaders and mainly dedicated to calling people Darkfriends and executing them for looking at them funny, besides calling all the magic users (Aes Sedai) witches and assassinating or outright killing them whenever possible. Despite every other country but Amador (their base) hating their guts, they are for some reason given free passage into any country as long as they are only in small numbers (however they break this rule constantly), and don't cause any trouble (again, they break this rule constantly). It is mentioned that 50% of the common people supposedly like them, which may be the reason rulers tolerate them, but Jordan never bothered to show any common people doing anything but cowering in fear when they come by, so...** At one point Thom Merrilin's reaction to a statement by Elayne suggests that the Lord Captain Commander of the Whitecloaks, then Pedron Niall, was close to or more powerful than the Queen of Andor, one of the more powerful of the nations, as there are apparently Whitecloaks in and from every land. The 'from' bit is as close as indicating they have large scale support as exists one supposes.* The Little Sisters of the Immaculate Chainsaw in Simon R. Green's ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'' books.** Also the SAS (Salvation Army Sisterhood). Hard-core nuns of military persuasion, that have been banned and condemned by every branch of Christian Church (though, they still hire SAS when all else has failed). SAS burns down satanist churches, perform exorcisms on politicians and they once skinned and ate a werewolf. Save them all and let God sort them out, so to speak.* Turpin, Archbishop of Rheims, and Don Jerome, bishop of Valencia after its conquest, serve as examples of this in the tales about Roland and El Cid, respectively. Both apparently used swords, at least in the stories.* The Thirty, in Creator/DavidGemmell's Literature/{{Drenai}} novels. They're also ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin - there's 30 of them. And they are badass.* ''The Twisted Cross'' in the ''Wingman'' series by Mack Maloney features friars in the South American jungles who defend their mission from regular raids from bandits and Neo-Nazi invaders. A group of them, including their leaders, later join the protagonist on his journey to stop the Nazis from finding hidden Incan gold to fund their war effort and plant nuclear mines in the Panama Canal to keep control of it.* ''Cestus Dei,'' by John Maddox Roberts, set in a far future when a heavily reformed Catholic Church is a major spacefaring military power.* The short story "The Way of Cross and Dragon" by Creator/GeorgeRRMartin. The protagonist is a Catholic Inquisitor traveling among (mostly) human colony-worlds to put down heresy.* The ''Literature/ChildeCycle'' series has the Friendlies, on the planets Harmony and Association, exemplify this trope. The planets constantly have wars between the various sects. Oh, the Friendlies are also hired out as CannonFodder [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Mercs]], their only major export.* Creator/DavidWeber uses this trope a lot in his various stories.** In his novel ''Crusade'' in the ''TabletopGame/{{Starfire}}'' series, an alien race believes that Earth is their heaven and that humans have poisoned it so they go out to [[KillEmAll take care of things]].** In his ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'' series the main villains are the corrupt heads of the Church of God Awaiting, who have deified the very person to have orbitally bombarded the planet and sent them back into medievalism centuries earlier.*** Specifically the Temple Guard which forms the backbone of their forces as well as providing the role of the military equivalent for the lands directly administered by the Church.** ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' has the Masadans as the dark side of this trope.** Yet another example in ''Literature/TheWarGods'' Tomanak, the local war god's has the most notable on in his Order, but other deities are mentioned to have their own, smaller fighting forces, such as the Axes of Isvaria to name but one.* In John Barnes's ''Sin of Origin'' the Christian Commonwealth has a renewed Knights Templar as its military wing. They're actually the good guys, [[GreyAndGrayMorality more or less]].* The Fraternity of the Stone (from the book of that title by David Morrell), a secret society dating back to the Crusades created in response to the Assassins. In modern times they serve as an intelligence (including assassination) arm of the church.* The Derethi from ''Literature/{{Elantris}}'' are a deeply hierarchical and militant religion, with their priesthood resembling a military as much as a clergy. Derethi high priest [[AntiVillain Hrathen]] is perhaps the single most dangerous combatant of any of the main characters [[spoiler: save one]], and don't even start on the [[BodyHorror Dakhor]] [[WarriorMonk Monks]]...* Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/{{Chalion}}'' series features two groups of church militants. In the polytheistic Quintarian religion, men who pledge their oaths to The Son of Autumn are the Army, while those who join the order of The Daughter of Spring maintain order within the country's borders.* A character in Creator/TamoraPierce's ''Literature/ProvostsDog'' series mentions "warrior [women] with sickles" from a temple who punish violations of the "Goddess's Law concerning women." Given that said priestesses are mentioned in reference to a [[DirtyOldMan man notorious for roving hands]], it's not hard to imagine the gist of the Law. The Goddess' temple warriors are mentioned in other [[Literature/TortallUniverse Tortall]] books, too.* In Creator/JHBrennan's ''Literature/BarmyJeffers'' books, there is a literal Church Militant. Motto: "Bless 'em! Bash 'em! Hack 'em! Slash 'em!"** It's worth noting that because the ''Barmy Jeffers'' series was a conscious spoof of various tropes associated with [[TabletopRPG Tabletop Roleplaying]] (and especially ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'') this was a deliberate reference to D&D-style "Cleric" characters.* Seret knights in ''Literature/TheRiyriaRevelations'' are the Nyphron Church's [[spoiler:(and eventually, New Empire's)]] enforcers-''cum''-inquisition, beholden only to the Patriarch and Sentinels.* ''Literature/SpecialCircumstances'': While the Special Circumstances personnel do "kick ass for the Lord" (or whatever deity[ies] they worship), it's not done specifically in service to their religion. The one exception is the associated Roman Catholic Church group Opus Dei, which is treated as a SWAT team for the Church, and whose presence is noted to mean that there's some serious trouble ahead.* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. Just as in real life.* The Church in ''Literature/TheWitchWatch'' are a RunningGag mainly seem to exist to kill things and burn evidence.* The [[TruthInTelevision Lord's Resistance Army]] in ''Literature/SomeoneElsesWar''.* In Creator/RobertRankin's ''The Book of Ultimate Truths'', our heroes visit a monastery with a fully stocked armoury. Supposedly it's all standard Vatican issue.--> We're only lightweight tactical here. The Jesuits hold the nuclear stockpile.* A famous quote from Literature/TheBible says, "Upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." In other words, the Church is a BatteringRam, for besieging {{Hell}}.* In ''Literature/PayMeBug'', [[TheEmpire The Empire of the Radiant Throne]] is one part theocracy, two parts authoritarian dictatorship.* The Church of Lumin in ''Literature/StoriesOfNypre'' may not seem militant at first. Then you realize the priestesses who run the place also serve as commanders of Lumin's army and are quite quick to dispatch them in an attempt to control magic in the world.* The demonic narrator of ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters'' describes the church as seen from the spiritual dimension (where things that seem mundane to humans, such as a simple prayer, take on very real and tangible consequences) this way: --> “…the Church as we see her, spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners…"* Manfred and Eric in ''Literature/TheHeirsOfAlexandria'' are members of the Knights of the Holy Trinity ('Knots'), charged with fighting pagan sorceries and spirits.* The nuns from "Blood Sister: One Tough Nun", the fictional movie in the novel InfiniteJest by David Foster Wallace.* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': The smith priests of Fenix the Firebird appear to engage in this. Besides the faith maintaining a monopoly on the production of the ''tools of war'' (weapons, armor, etc.), there are apparently "battle priests" present during the Battle of the Samara in ''The Baron of Maleperduys.'' Naturally, they wield war hammers.* The Church of the Silver Crown in ''Literature/ShatteredTwilight'' has '''two''' orders of openly militant clergy (the Purgatai and the Justicai) as well as a '''standing army''', the White Guard.* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Part of Neuro's job description as a priest in the Brotherhood of Death involves battling hostile spirits and criminal necrocraft users. He wields a scythe and death magic. * ''Literature/TheDinosaurLords'': The EliteArmy called the Companions is technically a militant order of the Church of the Creators, although they stray somewhat from the accepted doctrine and the Pope is looking for an excuse to disband them.* The Order of Shadows from ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheMiraclesDistrict'' used to be one, working as the hand of Catholic Church in the world of the supernatural, but eventually they went rogue and became {{Private Military Contractor}}s.* ''Literature/TheTraitorSonCycle'' has the Order of St. Thomas, a religious order of {{Magic Knight}}s raised to fight against the Wild. They're extremely well-trained and so silent, even the Wild can't detect them.* An odd off-hand example, but in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' near the end, the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and various Protestant sects all reunite with forgiveness and a mutual laying-of-hands ceremony, to pursue a global crusade against Islam, led by the newly established multi-sect Militant Order of Saint Louis, into which the protagonist is inducted as a commander and instructor.* ''Literature/{{Xenos}}'':** Order of the Maker's Hand, essentially the armed branch of the Arland Church. Individual members are respectfully addressed as paladins, colloquially as "handies".** The clerics of Belgor, due to the city's unique status and the proximity of the Blight, are all proficient warriors.** Saint Irdis' Order. Technically, this order is tasked with preaching and political issues, e.g. serving as clerics at royal courts. Joining this order requires to have completed some sort of military career, though. Saint Irdis' branches are, with rare exceptions, located on the Ritum continent and involved in the war against the elven empire of Ritum.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'':** THE BISHOP!** THE CHURCH POLICE!** UsefulNotes/TheSpanishInquisition is an example of this, but they are ''very'' incompetent at it.* The vampire-killing organization in ''Series/{{Ultraviolet}}'' appears to be some kind of spin-off of the Catholic Church. Specifically - at least according to one Code V - it's connected to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly known as TheInquisition.* The Knights of Byzantium in ''Series/{{Buffy|The Vampire Slayer}}''.* The Minbari Religious Caste in ''Series/BabylonFive.'' They hold off the shadows practically on their own while the warrior-caste stays home.* One episode of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' featured the Covenant Lutheran Militia who patrolled with a fire-truck filled with holy water.* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "The Time of Angels": "Father Octavian, Sir. Bishop, 2nd class. Twenty clerics at my command. The troops are already in the DropShip and landing shortly." According to the Doctor, "It's the 51st Century. The Church has moved on."** The year afterwards, we got a villainous example in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E7AGoodManGoesToWar A Good Man Goes To War]]". The rank-and-file soldiers mostly seem like ordinary people (there's even a married gay couple), but the [[EliteMooks Headless Monks]] are -- well, the name [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin kind of sums it up]]. Oddly, they seem to be made up of different denominations -- the married couple are Anglican, but their colonel refers to a "Papal Mainframe". (Granted, the same colonel mentions the Queen and its three thousand years in the future so it's not too unreasonable to suppose that the Catholic and Anglican churches have merged, along with the Army by then.)** The army in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E7AGoodManGoesToWar A Good Man Goes To War]] is explicitly a task force made out of a levy of allied political entities with the specific aim of taking down The Doctor. The "Gamma Girl" is from a world that is mentioned as being "Heaven Neutral" making her presence odd, since they apparently aren't involved in this conflict. This could mean that most soldiers at this time in history are "clerics", or, possibly, that the conflict with the Doctor is a holy war that all the denominations have agreed upon.** "The Time of the Doctor" featured the Papal Mainframe (first mentioned in "A Good Man Goes to War"; Colonel Manton's edict to lower the Headless Monks' hoods came "by the divine grant of the Papal Mainframe herself" and revealed that it is actually a massive space church built into a starship, and that it is commanded by an old friend of the Doctor's named Tasha Lem. The church functioned as an "intergalactic UN", and strove to maintain peace and security. Although at first benevolent (like the clerics seen in Series 5), they and the Doctor became entangled in a predicament which prompted Tasha to issue an "unscheduled faith change," dedicating the church to the purpose of keeping the Doctor from speaking his name on Trenzalore to release the Time Lords (which would incite another Time War), and declaring that only the Doctor's silence would fall on Trenzalore. It was also revealed that the memory-proof Silents that appeared in Series 6 are the church's genetically-engineered "confessional priests," and that the iteration of the church that was seen in "A Good Man Goes to War" was a RenegadeSplinterFaction led by Madame Kovarian that resorted to extremism in order to maintain the Doctor's silence, by traveling back along his timeline and attempting to kill him (via blowing up his TARDIS in Series 5 and training River to assassinate him in Series 6) so that he could never go to Trenzalore in the first place ([[StableTimeLoop although, in reality, they just ended up creating the very situation that they were trying to prevent]]).* Much like its literary counterpart, ''Series/GameOfThrones'' has the Faith Militant. However, the television version of the Faith Militant is even more frightening and fanatical than the literary version. Whereas the book version of the order is portrayed in a morally ambiguous light (they do good deeds such as protecting the common people from bandits, and mostly come across as Westeros' answer to real-world military monastic orders such as the Templars, Hospitallers etc), the television version of the Faith Militant are basically the Westeros version of the Taliban. It was disbanded 200 years before the start of the series for causing problems for the monarchy at the time. And now thanks to Cersei they're causing problems for the entire noble class. [[SarcasmMode Way to go, Queeny.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]* ''Podcast/DiceFunk'': Anne sees herself as this to the church of Avandra, although it is unclear if she is actually carrying out the will of the faith, or just overly eager and violent.* ''Wormwood: A Serialized Mystery'': He's Grail. [[TheNameIsBondJamesbond Bishop Elias Grail]] of the Roman Catholic Church. And he's here to drive all the evil from the town of Wormwood by whatever violent means necessary.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'', Clan Cloud Cobra are known for as "the clergy of the Clans". Being founded by a Chaplain, the Cloud Cobras all follow a ecumenical religious movement called "The Way', although they have subdivisions based on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other faiths.** Comstar and its offshoot, the Word of Blake, who elevated the preservation of knowledge to a religion -- then started nuking people. Comstar's own army, hilariously enough, were composed of people that were Mechwarriors first and lacked the fanaticism found in other Comstar branches, as well as seeing machines less as objects of reverence and more as tools they're quite fond of. When the zealots broke off and formed the Word, the Com Guards had the smallest losses of personnel.** Of smaller scope is the Brotherhood of Randis, a small and exclusive order of philosophical and devout Christians. Originally little more than a mercenary unit with high ideals and really bad management, since the 3050s they've become known throughout the Periphery for performing works of charity, setting up missions and schools, and dispensing brutal asskickings to pirates.* The Gothic fantasy world of ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' has several varieties spread throughout the races.** In TheEmpire, all major religions (apart from the cult of Shallya, Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, and Ranald, God of Thieves) have their own military branches associated with them, both in the form of temple guards and the like, and in the form of militant orders. Naturally, the more warlike the god, the larger the militant following.*** The cult of Ulric, god of Survival, Wrath and Winter, is one of the Empire's {{War God}}s, and his priests often lead armies into battle. Ulric's followers are forbidden from wearing helmets or skins from wolves they didn't personally kill with weapons of their own manufacture, since they are expected to show courage and self-reliance. Ulric-worshippers are common in every battle-line in TheEmpire. The cult also sponsors an order of knights, the Knights of the White Wolf.*** Sigmar, the Ur-Emperor of the Empire, is venerated as the founder, uniter and protector of The Empire, and, as such, his priests can be found in many capacities throughout The Empire. The War Priesthood are sent out to lead the Empire's armies and bolster morale when fighting Chaos, so that the men can feel Sigmar's will is with them.*** The iconic ChurchMilitant of the game is the War Priest of Sigmar, with shaved head, orange robes, plate armor and warhammer.*** The Witch Hunters are a less obvious example, but they are still an order of the priesthood of Sigmar, who will travel the Empire and root out Chaos, unsanctioned magic and other unwholesome practices with nothing more than a pistol and a prayer, and succeed more often than not.*** The third war god (yes, the Empire is the kind of place that needs three separate war gods), Myrmidia, is more worshipped in Tilea and Estalia, and her worship has only recently spread to the Empire. Still, she is popular enough with officers and {{Combat Aestheticist}}s. Myrmidia's knightly order is the Knights of the Blazing Sun, who, while not large, steadily gain in popularity.** Looking outside the Empire, Bretonnia has a borderline example in the Grail Knights. Grail Knigths are the pinnacle of Bretonnian chivalry, knights who have, through long years of questing and chivalrous acts proven themselves worthy to see the Lady of the Lake, Bretonnias patron Goddess, and drink from the Grail. Drinking from the Grail embues these knights with power beyond that of mortal men, their infirmities are cured and their eyes glow with green light. Some Grail Knights swear themselves to the service of the Bretonnian King (the King is the only lord in the realm who is required to be a Grail Knight, and no Grail Knight would ever put himself in a position where he might have to serve someone who wasn't one), but most either travel the countryside fighting bandits, orcs and beastmen (inevitably attracting an entourage of peasants who see the knight as the Lady's will made manifest) or settle in a small Grail chapel somewhere and tend it for the rest of their lives (subsisting on donations from pilgrims who see the knight as the Lady's will made manifest).* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' also features extravagantly armed warrior priests in prominent roles in the Imperium factions.** The Imperium is one massive Church Militant-- the government wear habits (and brandish laser-pistols), while the police force is more concerned with heresy than crime. Ordinary Imperial planets hold colossal celebrations of the Emperor on innumerable Saints days (while brandishing yet more laser pistols). They also have a permanent Inquisition which acts as StateSec, armies of power-armored, gun- and ''flamethrower''-wielding [[AmazonBrigade nuns]], and a tremendous amounts of religious iconography and fanaticism that characterize the "normal" soldiers. This is probably a good thing, given that if you believe in false gods, the false gods can not only manifest in reality, but tear you a new bunghole in the process.** Sisters of Battle fit this trope moreso than any other Imperial faction, as their faith manifests as an in-game mechanic, as well as fighting with a ''Living Saint'', the corpse of a martyr apparently ressurected through sheer force of will (or faith).** The Frateris Militia deserve a mention-- badly equipped zealots raised at short notice by the Ecclesiarchy (Imperial Church, actually not much different from the Medieval Catholic Church 'IN SPACE!')** The ([[BlackAndGreyMorality even more]]) evil version is the Word Bearers, a Chaos Space Marine chapter who are fanatical worshipers of the [[ReligionOfEvil Chaos Gods]]. They actually made a FaceHeelTurn because TheEmperor [[UnwantedFalseFaith didn't want to be worshiped]]. Strangely enough, Khornate followers also qualify: their Lord of Rage specifically does not want churches, altars or prayers. All he wants from his followers is to spill blood and collect skulls or die trying. ** Almost every faction has this to a degree. The Tau follow the words of their religious Ethereals without question, the Orks fight for the flimsiest justification for Gork (or possibly Mork). The Eldar Aspect Warriors all embody an aspect of their war god, Khaine, the Harlequins serve the Laughing God, and so on. The only ones who don't have these are the Dark Eldar (who only care for themselves[[note]]Funnily enough, their actions are not unlike the human sacrifice worship practices of [[Myth/AztecMythology the Aztecs]], for all of their sadism and murder provides the god Slannesh a distraction from slowly claiming their own souls - but it doesn't count as they have no reverence for the god what so ever.[[/note]]), the Tyranids (who have no concept of gods), and the Necrons (who ''enslaved'' their gods). * TabletopGame/{{Chess}}-- at least the standard version -- gives us the Bishop. The French, however, call this piece the [[TheJester Fool]] instead, while the Russians call it the elephant, and the Germans call it the runner.* The cleric class in virtually all incarnations and permutations of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. It seems that no matter what deity you serve, basic training in this class inevitably also covers melee combat with such weapons as your faith permits while wearing heavy armor. (Reinforced in the third and fourth editions of the game with additional combat powers, including ones specifically boosting the cleric's own butt-kicking prowess.)** There is also an NPC Adept class, which represents something closer to your average non-combatant cleric. It's just that your average PC is most definitely ''not'' a non-combatant.** And the Cloistered Cleric variant, who gets marginally more weapons and armor training than the average wizard. From the ''TabletopGame/{{Greyhawk}}'' campaign setting: Heironeous, whose clerics ''are'' soldiers, making them a literal Church Militant, Saint Cuthbert, whose followers can be ... enthusiastic at times about evangelizing, and who opposed evil with a passion, and Pholtus, whose [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus inquisitions you probably don't expect]], particularly from a non-evil church.** And the Paladin class, which is far more combat-capable than the Cleric class, and have the signature attack of SmiteEvil(And its partner, DetectEvil), but are much more limited in spell range and have a much less powerful TurnUndead.** And, as of 4th edition, the Avenger class, who are clerics mixed with rogues to become assassins of God.** All clerics in the TabletopGame/{{Eberron}} setting are holy knights, most ordinary priests are just adepts or experts. The Church of the Silver Flame are particularly well known for their [[KnightTemplar zealotry]].* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'' has ''three'' of these: the Malleus Maleficarum, a secret arm of the Vatican dedicated to hunting down monsters (and usually of the "suffer not a witch to live" ethos); the Long Night, a loose group of pre-millennialist fundamentalists devoted to "redeeming" monsters; and the Knights of St. George, an Anglican group that focuses mainly on demons and sorcerers.** Also in the ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'' there's the Society of Leopold, your basic secret Catholic monster hunters.** And in the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', there's the Fire-Touched from TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken, who act like this. One of the Pure Tribes that rejects service to Luna in favor of fighting the Forsaken, they see their undertaking as a holy cause and their tribal totem as a near-divine prophet. They're about equally happy to convert or kill their foes.* The Sisters of Mercy from the ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' supplement ''Glimpse of the Abyss'' are a convent of [[AmazonBrigade Nuns With Guns]] based in the Netherworld who hunt down and kill those whom their Mother Superior deems to be deserving of the respite of death from the suffering the Sisters believe life to be. Those whose names end up on the Rolls of Mercy and are targeted for "deliverance" often aren't so keen on dying.* The ''TabletopGame/{{Talislanta}}'' RPG allows players to become (among other things) any one of several types of intolerant cleric. Although few have any spellcasting abilities, these classes are interesting in that they are the only characters that come with the "torture" skill.* The parody RPG ''TabletopGame/MachoWomenWithGuns'' has only three character classes: Bimbos, Succubi, and Combat Nuns. I'm sorry, "Sisters of Our Lady of Harley Davidson". Needless to say, that game is made of raw [[RuleOfCool Awesome]].* The ''TabletopGame/IronKingdoms'' setting has a whole nation of these, called the Protectorate of Menoth.* ''TabletopGame/{{Infinity}}'' gives this in spades. Most factions have either a Buddhist, Catholic/Christian, or Islamic militant sect, and Pan-Oceania goes so far as to have a special sectorial force focused on Knightly Orders resurrected by the Catholic Church.* The ''TabletopGame/CyberEurope'' expansion to Iron Crown's ''CyberSpace'' RPG introduces some hotshot special forces of the Vatican, such as the ''Apostolic Carabiniers'' SWAT unit and a Mission-Impossible-ish intelligence service, managed by Jesuits. These organizations are consistently portrayed as (reasonably) good guys, which is surprising since the authors are all Swedes.* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'''s Immaculate Order is what happens when you take this trope, add WarriorMonk, SupernaturalMartialArts, and ElementalPowers, and stir vigorously.** Then there's [[http://wiki.white-wolf.com/exalted/index.php?title=Characters:Peleps_Deled Peleps Deled,]] a Water Aspected Dragon-Blood who would (and has) kill someone for disagreeing with him on the smallest and most trivial parts of the Immaculate Doctrine.* The Boros Legion from ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'''s Ravnica setting.** Additionally, the Cathars of the Church of Avacyn on Innistrad, [[GothicHorror by]] [[CrapSackWorld necessity]]. In fact, the angels in Innistrad are also divided into several groups, and one of them, the Goldnight, is a Church Militant group.* Within ''TabletopGame/TheDarkEye,'' there are numerous churches that fit this trope. The church of [[WarGod Rondra]](goddess of honorable battle), the church of her son [[WarGod Kor]](god of war, bloodshed and mercanaries) are at the forefront, but most churches have an order or two, that is more militant than the rest of the church.* The Order of the Sacred Hamaxe from ''TabletopGame/RocketAge''. They form war-bands made up of members from every Martian caste and roam around performing exorcisms as well as fighting dangerous animals and bandits. Unusually a band member of any caste can become a war-priest, although they are usually Kastari.* The Machine Cult in ''TabletopGame/StarRealms''. Being surrounded by a hostile alien species means the Cult has to have a well-armed star fleet just to survive. In addition, one of the Cult's Hero cards is the War Elder. * The Church of Abel in ''TabletopGame/AnimaBeyondFantasy'', complete with monks who use martial arts, countless knights orders, and an Inquisition whose members more often that not are very proficient in combat (and when not, they've magic and the like at their disposal). When your CrystalDragonJesus and his followers were kicking supernatural asses elsewhere, that's something to be expected.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* Marie D'Artois in VideoGame/{{Anno1404}} is ''very'' enthusiastic about leading the armies of the crusade, and she's damn good at it. This somewhat ironically makes her somewhat easier to manipulate, as she will do almost ''anything'' if adequately convinced it is what God wishes her to do: including destroy the homes of innocent people she's been lead to think are heathens.* It's fairly common for Eastern {{RPG}}s to have [[AllMonksKnowKungFu Catholic monks as brass knuckle-wearing rosary-carrying hand-to-hand fighters]]. ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' especially seems to depict them as being the cross between Catholic priests and Shaolin monks.* Games of the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series set closer to the modern day depict "The Church" this way. Said church is rather open-minded, having "Church Witches" in high ranking positions. Not surprising; {{Dracula}} tended to kill off anyone the Belmonts weren't protecting, and they were fond of white-magic users, especially the Belnades clan. It's been retconned that Sypha Belnades worked for the Church and was on a mission for them when ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaIIIDraculasCurse'' took place.** The Belmonts themselves are descended from [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Leon Belmont]], a Crusades veteran.* The Protoss High Templars from ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' qualify for this trope, since they're highly trained priests capable of summoning deadly thunderstorms out of thin air.** The Protoss army. Their footsoldiers are called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin zealots]]. As in religious fanatics.* The Ethos organization from ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' bears certain resemblances to Catholicism, and seems to have at least their fair share of firearms.* ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberiumWars'' : Kane's Wrath introduces the post-Second Tiberium War Black Hand, a powerful Nod faction composed of highly trained religious zealots with [[KillItWithFire an obsessive tendency to equip all their squads with flamethrower weaponry]]. Additionally, these guys have a tendency to [[MadeOfIron resist incredible amounts of damage]] and [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve fight harder than any other faction due to their fervent religious beliefs]].** To better understand the Black Hand, just have a look at the weaponry they tend to use: the [[HumongousMecha Purifier]], the [[BadassPreacher Confessor Cabal]], the [[IncendiaryExponent Black Disciple]] and the [[ImpressivePyrotechnics Purifying Flame Upgrade]].* ''VideoGame/BloodlineChampions'' has the Guardian and Inhibitor bloodlines, which both are this in job description.* The Lord's Believers in ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'' are a faction of [[BeliefMakesYouStupid technophobic]] Church Militants. Their combat bonuses (from fanaticism!) keep them militarily competitive and, incidentally, make them scary fuckers if they manage to steal your weapons research. Which they will, because the same fanaticism makes them awesome spies (can't brainwash 'em, can't break 'em, and more than happy to die in the line of duty!). Or they just get Transcendence before anyone else and instantly win.** Also the ''Cult of Planet'', who worship the planetary hive mind, and whose goal is to return Planet to its natural state...by any means necessary.** The Lord's Believers are shown in Michael Ely's novel ''Twilight of the Mind'' in their single-minded war against the University of Planet and, later, Morgan Industries. Despite being technologically backward, their fanatics make great infiltrators, and they use terrorist tactics with brutal efficiency. They're also great at quickly adapting captured enemy equipment against said enemies. Ultimately, their alliance with the Human Hive results in [[spoiler:the complete obliteration of the Spartan Federation with a single [[FantasticNuke Singularity Planet Buster]], the retreat of all other leaders into a virtual world in an underground bunker, and a Planet-wide GaiasVengeance that, presumably, [[DownerEnding wipes out the rest of human civilization on Chiron]]]].* Likewise, in ''Sid Meier's VideoGame/{{Civilization}} IV'', certain AI personalities (Isabella of Spain, for example) are religious zealots.* TheGunslinger-turned-Reverend Ray [=McCall=] in ''VideoGame/CallOfJuarez''.* Several examples from the ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series:** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'', there were knightly orders associated with eight of the Nine Divines (Talos being a god [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness hadn't been introduced to the series yet]]), which the player had the option to join upon locating their chapter houses.** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', the [[CorruptChurch Tribunal Temple]] is a powerful military force among the Dunmer. Special mention to the Buoyant Armigers, elite special forces hand-picked by [[PhysicalGod Tribunal deity]] Vivec himself, often decked out in high quality [[FantasyMetals Glass]] armor, who primarily operate inside the [[{{Mordor}} Ghostfence]]. ** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' has Weynon Priory, home to a few [[RetiredBadass ex-Blades]] who manage to arm and defend themselves with claymores when attacked by the [[ReligionOfEvil Mythic Dawn]]. One of the monks explains further that the Order of Talos and the Blades (the emperor's personal network of spies and bodyguards) are two arms of the same organization, and many members of one wind up in the other at some point.** The Vigilant of Stendarr in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', dedicated to the God of Mercy... [[KnightTemplar and purging demons and various other abominations]]. The [[StateSec Thalmor]] also count as an evil example of the trope, as one of their primary goals is to stamp out "heresy" (read: Talos worship) through means like torture and ethnic cleansing.* In ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' (''[[{{Macekre}} Devil Kings]]'' to the western gamers) one of the characters is a missionary named Xavi (Q-Ball in Devil Kings), a LoveFreak who dual-wields handcannons based on the foreign missionaries of Japan and whose goal seems to be the conversion of all of Japan (or whatever indeterminate country Devil Kings is supposedly in).** He doesn't appear in Sengoku Basara 3, but his influence remains in the form of Sorin Otomo, a powerful regional lord and one of Xavi's most faithful disciples.* The Apostles in ''VideoGame/DreamfallTheLongestJourney'' serve as elite enforcers of the theocratic [[TheEmpire Azadi Empire]]. According to one of them (who is also a playable character), they are "missionaries," "the last resort" to "bring the Word of the Goddess to unbelievers."* The [[CrystalDragonJesus Church of Martel]] in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' has an army to its own. This isn't even mentioning the Cruxis -- the Angels that said Church worships. Or their underlings. In addition there's the ChosenOne, Colette. She's [[BewareTheCuteOnes quite strong compared to her cute, religious appearance]], and she's quite the GameBreaker, if used right. Zelos also shares that title- it being one of the highest positions in the Church. He's also a very powerful fighter.** Played again in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' - again CrystalDragonJesus Church with an army. Given, this time, it isn't just a Church - it's a country, a [[strike:country ran-by-and-pretty-much-is that church]] theocracy. The game's TheChick and the QuirkyMinibossSquad / PsychoRangers, in addition to the BigBad, as well as several other characters are from this military. Some of the non-militants, like Ion for example, have kick ass combat abilities.* In ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' - Ormus is a religion with its own full-fledged military industrial complex, including weapons and advanced physics research.* The Aeon Illuminate of ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'' has its military wing, led by the Avatar of War. Aeon ranks are known to include Knight, Templar, and Crusader, which should tell the player plenty. If not, their enormous robotic army, navy, and air force includes the Exodus, Harbinger, Fervor, Radiance, and the dreaded Galactic Colossus, termed the Sacred Assault Bot. Oh, and their nuclear missile launcher is called the Apocalypse, and they have a rapid fire artillery shotgun called the Salvation.* The Order of the Hammer, or Hammerites, from the ''VideoGame/{{Thief}}'' series. They often pray to their God to lend them strength to fight their version of evil (Pagans and anyone that doesn't think like them).* Paladins in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' are always members of a militant religious order that varies by race. Human and Dwarf Paladins are Knights of the Silver Hand (originally the ''only'' Paladins in the game, and the terms were almost synonymous); Draenei are Vindicators; Blood Elves are Blood Knights; and Tauren are Sunwalkers. Priests count as well, though their agendas vary.** On an organizational level, there have been several Church Militants based around the Light. In order of their creation: The Order of the Silver Hand; the [[CorruptChurch Scarlet Crusade]]; the Argent Dawn; and the Argent Crusade.* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning'' had a priest. With a sword-slash-crucifix. And a crossbox-slash-crucifix. AND he could shoot light out of his hands. Proving that priests have secret magical powers that will be useful in the event of a secret zombie apocalypse.** Not sure about the video game, but in the table game from which it's derived, powers are granted for mysterious reasons to seemingly incongruous and unrelated people. Many characters, left with no rational explanation for their new powers, are going to explain them the best they can based on their cultural background. In other words, if a 'typical' American suddenly was able to sprout a flaming sword and smite a vampire with it, all the while hearing voices or seeing hidden messages, what's less likely than that they would attribute it to God? And if a priest gained such powers, religious mania is a perfectly reasonable outcome.* ''VideoGame/LaPucelle'' is about a squad of monster hunters belonging to a church whose (sorta secret) purpose is destroying demons.* The Church of Elemia from ''VideoGame/ArTonelicoMelodyOfElemia'', as evidenced by Cardinal Radolf's really nice spear. This is because [[spoiler:[[CorruptChurch Bishop Falss]] formed them with the intent to invade Platina.]]* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'': Priest robes (prayer bonus), best mace you can find (prayer bonus), hunt giants/dragons (their bones give more prayer xp). You can take a lot less damage (Protect from x prayers) while dealing a lot more damage (Fortify Strength/Attack/etc.) And, the Monks of Zamorak, too.* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' has the Covenant, a conglomerate of alien species that embark on crusades in the name of their gods, the Forerunners, all in the name walking the path to the Great Journey.* The priest class of ''VideoGame/DungeonFighterOnline'' is supposed to be a support class, albeit a support class that's NOT a [[SquishyWizard frail caster]] that needs to run away when danger approaches. Those bulging muscles and that oversized weapon he carries on his back isn't just for show.* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' features two rival shrines of {{miko}}, both of whom carry out "{{youkai}} exterminations", and Sanae Kochiya actually does so under the direct behest of her [[PalsWithJesus live-in goddesses]]. It is mentioned in ''Unidentified Fantastic Object'' that Byakuren Hijiri and her brother also performed this function, before the [[DeathByOriginStory latter died]] and the former [[FaceHeelTurn grew to favor youkai over humans]].** And now we have Toyosatomimi No Miko, another religion-inspired fighter (Taoism) who led a sort of crusade to make Buddhism the state religion in her country while secretly practicing Taoism. This backfired a lot, since when she tried to use Taoism to ressurect later on, Buddhist monks sealed her away.** An often-overlooked bits is that even Yuyuko and Youmu are Church Militant of a Buddhist esoteric order. Their stages are heavily based on the concept Pure Land, and their spellcards based on teachings of Buddhism (notably the aforementioned Pure Land esotericism).* ''{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}'' has a variant on this: the titular group was formed after the hero Rosenkreuz and his eight closest disciples won a holy war against the Holy Empire, and became a Magi-specific order of the Orthodox Church's army. Unfortunately, the Church and the RKS seem to have come to blows ''again'' recently...* The Crusaders in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', although they have the odd distinction of being ''officially'' excommunicated by the time the game starts for consorting with Al Bhed heretics and their machina.** The [[WarriorMonk Warrior Monks]] of Yevon and, to a lesser extent, the Summoner Guardians, since they're respectively the army and the bodyguards of the "saints" of Yevon.* The Yagudo [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Theomilitary]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' consists [[PlanetOfHats of a race of Church Militants]].* The Sanctum (Jap: ''seifu'', or Holy Government) in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', the theocracy controlling Cocoon under the leadership of Galenth Dysley [[spoiler:who is the BigBad]].* The Temple Knights in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics''.* The 'Lethal Hounds' of the Garden Children from ''LuminousArc''.* ''VideoGame/TwinBlades'' has a gun-and-scythe-toting nun as a player character. Said gun can shoot [[SwissArmyWeapon all kinds of crazy supernatural ammunition]], the better to halt the ZombieApocalypse in its tracks.* Anonym, a revolver-[[GunsAkimbo dual-wielding]] nun (whose stage is an empty cathedral in Hong Kong) in the ''doujin'' FightingGame ''VideoGame/AkatsukiBlitzkampf''. She works for the Vatican's ''Secret Club'', which opposes the heretic villains of the story.* The ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series tends to have quite a few of these about. Many of the backstories of the games will feature a group of badass heroes saving the continent, and at least one of them ([[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Archbishop Blaggi, Saint Maira]]; [[VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe Saint Elimine]]; [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Saint Latona]]) will count as this '''and''' as the founder of their own religion, which is then spread through the years and lands. Then, when the world's in danger, members of such churches will join the hero's armies to fill the trope and fight for it. For more generic examples, the War Monk (male) and War Cleric (female) classes introduced in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' come across as this, given how they wield staves and axes. (Libra, a devout worshiper of Naga, starts out as a War Monk, others can reclass into their respective class.)* There are tons of examples in ''VideoGame/DarkAgeofCamelot,'' most notably the [[TheMedic Cleric]], [[KnightinShiningArmor Paladin]], and [[SimpleStaff Friar]] of the vaguely medieval Catholic church in Albion, and perhaps the best example in [[Myth/NorseMythology Midgard]], where even the 'wizard' classes use piety instead of intelligence to determine their spell strength, and each class has its own Norse patron deity (For example: Odin for Runemasters, Hel for Spiritmasters, Thor for Thanes, and Loki for Shadowblades).* ''Franchise/DragonAge'' has the Templar order. They exist to carry out the Chantry's (church's) will using military might. They're trained to be skilled at fighting mages, in order to ensure that all mages in the chantry's territory (they intend to become the main religion of the world) are aligned with the chantry. ** The Seekers of Truth, who answer solely to the Divine herself. They primary serve as a check and a balance to the Templar Order, working to [[InternalAffairs investigate]] any signs of corruption or dissent within its ranks. Other Seekers work to protect the Chantry from threats, both external ''and'' internal.** On a character level, Leliana. While not an ordained member of the Chantry (she never got around to her vows), she's very open about her faith. Her skills were also learned in her life prior to finding religion, but she's not above using them in what she believes is a divinely directed mission to aid the Warden.** Following in a similar vein, Prince Sebastian Vael in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', an ordained brother in the Chantry who takes his faith very seriously. While he's mostly pacifistic, he's not above lending his bow to help curb the more criminal elements present in Kirkwall, as well as deal with rogue Mages. He slips towards the more militant side after [[spoiler: Anders blows up the Chantry and kills the Grand Cleric. If Hawke does not execute Anders, Sebastian openly declares his intention to head to Starkaven and raise an army, then return and raze Kirkwall ''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge to the ground]]''.]]** By ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', the Chantry has completely lost control of the Templars, as they break away feeling that their efforts haven't been greatly appreciated and that the Chantry isn't being militant enough in the current CivilWar against the mages.** The Qunari [[OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions have no deities]], but their philosophical leaders have an arm devoted to enforcing the Qun in their territory. This group is known as the Ben-Hassrath, and are considered priests rather than soldiers.* The Church of Zakarum from the ''{{VideoGame/Diablo}}'' series has the paladins, who were founded to protect the monks who were meant to spread the religion. For some reason, the kind, generous, armed knights were more inspiring to the populace than the monks. They faded from view once Zakarum fell under the influence of [[TheCorrupter Mephisto]] and no longer put a lot of effort into converting people, only to make a comeback when the Prime Evils started attacking the mortal world, and Zakarum started converting again. This time, anyone inconvertible was deemed evil and killed. A small band, including any paladin player characters from ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', chose to go rogue, and directly confront the Prime Evils. They later discovered that the church they served was corrupt, and had to face several enemies that were themselves examples of this trope.** An earlier offshoot of the Church of Zakarum, the Crusaders, make their return in the expansion to ''VideoGame/DiabloIII''. This order was originally formed two hundred years before the events of ''III'', when the corruption within the Church was noticed by a high-ranking church official. The Crusaders are tasked with finding and eradicating the corruption within the Church[[note]]Even though the cause of the Church's corruption--the Prime Evil Mephisto--was slain by the heroes of ''Diablo II'', they do not consider the quest ended.[[/note]]. The Crusaders had disappeared into the far eastern parts of the world and were initially thought lost for good, but their crusade--passed on from mentor to novice through the generations--eventually led them back into the western world.* The Celestine and Nihilist priesthoods of ''{{VideoGame/Lusternia}}''. Respectively an order of warrior-priests based in [[TheFederation New Celest]] and a ChurchOfEvil based in [[TheEmpire Magnagora]], they're both comprised of divinely empowered crusaders. [[{{Archenemy}} They hate each other with a passion]].* Elsa la Conti and Clarice di Lanza of ''VideoGame/ArcanaHeart'', a pair of nuns who work for the Western Europe Spirit Sector. Elsa has a large cross used similar to a tonfa, as well as a gun, a whip, holy water, and other weapons for dealing with demons, spirits and the like. Clarice...doesn't need any of that stuff because she herself is a demon.* ''VideoGame/SepterraCore''. The Holy Guard of the Seven Winds, an order of paladin-type fighters from Shell Three.* The Ikko-Ikki in ''VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2''. A Buddhist militant monastic order of commoner men who oppose the decadency of clan rules. They even have their own form of Buddhism, Jodo-Shinzu, which is incompatible (in game-mechanic way) with Shinto-Buddhism practiced by most of Japan. And they are ''badass''. Any faction can have WarriorMonk units, which are some of the most expensive, hardest hitting, and deadliest units in the game (outside of hero units). Their only draw back is that their monk robes [[GlassCannon aren't very good at stopping arrows.]]* ''VideoGame/MedievalIITotalWar'' has this during Crusades called by the Pope. While you're on a Crusade, the Crusading army in question can recruit religious mercenaries that include fanatical pilgrims, spearmen, or cavalry. Outside of the Crusades you can recruit various knightly orders. There's also the Papal States, who sometimes will go into an expansionist phase and conquer various cities around Rome.* In ''{{VideoGame/Spore}}'', during the Civilization Stage, if your nation has a religious inclination, you build tanks that utilize music instead of cannons, and laying seige to a city consists of getting your music tanks to play (while a holographic preacher shouts at the city walls). Also, the game's Space Stage features a number of archetypes; one of which being the Zealot. Zealots are fanatically dedicated to Spode, and believe it is their duty to convert others to his worship, and smite all who refuse. The power given to players using this archetype is called "Fanatical Frenzy," allows you to instantly convert all cities on a planet, transferring it to your empire's control. However, due to the forcible conversion, any neighboring empires will treat it as a weapon of mass destruction and therefore will not trust anyone who makes use of it.* VideoGame/{{Civilization}} V: Gods and Kings has one religious belief called "holy warriors," which allows you to buy pre-industrial units with faith instead of gold or production. However, there is no gameplay of cosmetic differences between holy warriors or normal units.* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'':** The Mormons (now known as the New Canaanites) are a benevolent example. While they are known for being incredibly proficient in firearms (specifically the M1911 and the Thompson SMG) they are also known for generosity and offering help to anyone they can.** Joshua Graham, of the ''Honest Hearts'' DLC, is a specific example. He was a New Canaanite missionary before becoming one of the founders and TheBrute of Caesar's Legion. Following his failure at the First Battle of the Hoover Dam, Caesar [[YouHaveFailedMe dismissed him...]] [[RasputinianDeath violently.]] Graham survived and became TheAtoner, after which he made his way to Zion National Park, where he preaches to, and helps defend, the native tribes. He avoids being a SinisterMinister because he's a fundamentally good guy, but he's still ''scary as hell'' and not afraid to KillEmAll when it comes to his enemies.--> '''Graham:''' I have been baptized twice: once in water, once in flame. I am the right-hand of the Lord, and the instrument of his vengeance... Zion may not be lost to us after all.* ''{{VideoGame/Dota 2}}'': Chen.** "You can learn faith at the end of a sword."* In ''Franchise/DeadSpace'', by the time of [[VideoGame/DeadSpace3 the third game]], some [[ChurchOfHappyology Unitologists]] have taken up arms and are activating [[ArtifactOfDoom Markers]] everywhere they can.* In ''VideoGame/GuildWars: Prophecies'' the White Mantle is the theocratic government and military of Kryta after the failed Charr invasion. Unfortunately for the Krytans, [[CorruptChurch their gods happen to be a race of amoral spellcasters]].* ''All'' religious groups in ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland 2}}''. Particular standouts are the Servants of the Mushroom Cloud, who have turned Mutually Assured Destruction into a religious tenant that inspires them to keep the peace, and God's Militia, a genocidal Christian sect that bases its beliefs on the tape-recorded sermons of a fire-and-brimstone televangelist.* ''VideoGame/GroundControl'' has the Order of the New Dawn, a powerful religious order whose followers number in billions across the known worlds. For political and economic purposes, they're registered as a MegaCorp. The Pax Dei ("Peace of God" in Latin) is the Order's military arm. The Pax Dei soldiers use priesthood ranks (e.g. the second PlayerCharacter's rank is that of a Deacon and is the equivalent to a Major), and their military equipment is far ahead of the curve. All their ground vehicles are called "[[HoverTank hoverdynes]]", and they utilize EnergyWeapons. They're also taught to face their enemies directly; guerrilla tactics being an anathema to a warrior of God.* ''VideoGame/CivilizationBeyondEarth'':** High-level Affinity units sometimes approach this from the opposite direction -- while their military pedigree is obvious, as they develop Affinities tend to go from strictly practical philosophies of development, to rigid and dogmatic ideologies, to the level of out-and-out religions. This is especially true of the Purity Affinity and its ultimate unit, the LEV Destroyer (a floating citadel/artillery unit that wouldn't look out of place on a ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' battlefield). Individual Destroyers have "reliquaries" that hold items from Earth or the possessions of first-generation colonists, and bear names like "St. Germaine's Destroyer".** Supremacy makes a decent stab at this via MachineWorship (specifically the idolization of post-human cybernetics). Of particular note is their affinity-specific victory, which involves sending military units back to [[EarthThatWas Earth]] to [[TranshumanTreachery "Emancipate" (read: conquer)]] the [[PunyEarthlings non-augmented humans]].* Party members in ''VideoGame/{{Darklands}}'' who have a clerical background would be this. [[spoiler: UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar are also powerful enemies in this game.]] During a random encounter, the local bishop may demand a special tithe for the right to travel his lands. Should the party refuse and attack, he will fight them along his retinue.* In ''VideoGame/LordsOfTheRealm2'', the Bishop uses religion as an excuse to conquer lands.* In ''VideoGame/{{Infernal}}'', [=EtherLight=] isn't technically the church (instead being a more direct means for Heaven to act on Earth), but it takes stylistic cues from the church often enough to have the appearance of this trope. It's most noticeable in the first level, which is basically a medieval-style monastery with high-tech touches and guards who look like monks. More elite [=EtherLight=] components go for a more conventionally military theme, however.* ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'': A variation; Erica Fontaine is both a nun and a member of the Paris Assault Force; the convent she belongs to is not a military organization in and of itself.* Literally every deity (and a few things that aren't deities) in ''[[NexusWar Nexus Clash]]'' has one, up to and including the personification of [[ThePowerOfLove Love]]. How one advances the cause of one's Church is a bit of a mystery due to the enigmatic nature of the PowersThatBe, but killing the other side usually helps.* One of the factions of the [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade: Warband'' mod ''VideoGame/TheReckoning'' is the Church of Our Saviour, a whole army of guys wearing monk-like clothes (except some of their higher tier units, who wear medievalish armours), with units having religious theme-naming ("novice", "member of the clergy", etc.) and led by commanders with christian titles ("pastor", "preacher", "clergyman", etc.).* Gralsritter[[note]]lit. translated from German as "Grail's knight"[[/note]] is an order within Congregation for the Sacraments of Septian Church in [[VideoGame/KisekiSeries The Legend of Heroes Series]] responsible for investigating and retrieving lost ancient artifacts across Zemuria. The order is divided into three rank; A base class called Squire, a promoted squire called Knight who is assigned to support one of twelve special (and also strongest) knights called Dominion chosen by manifestation of power dubbed as "Stigma". While investigating artifacts sound like a harmless job for normal archeologists, people in the order are capable fighters. This is justified because there is also an arguably evil [[AncientConspiracy ancient order]] which has the same purpose filled by people with inhuman strenght and fighting capabilities and both of them often cross path with each other. So far, Gralsritter members encountered in the series are in the players' side. However, the church's intention hasn't been fully revealed.* ''VideoGame/{{ELEX}}'' features the Clerics of Calaan; a religious police state that puts its faith in the god Calaan, [[PlasmaCannon plasma weapons]], mechs and the power of industry. They are currently locked in a war with three other factions over control of the rare element Elex.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]* ''WebAnimation/MadnessCombat'' features a version of Jesus who fits this trope perfectly.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]* Sister Mona Theist of ''Webcomic/FlakyPastry'', as a member of the Sisters of Holy Retribution, fits to a tee.* The Vatican church of ''Webcomic/CryHavoc'' employs teams of vampire and demon hunters. They're preferred weapons are automatic air burst grenade launchers, broadswords, helicopter gunships and strike bombers. The only competing religion, the Norse based Aesir church, is implied to be even more aggressive with its methods.* Remember how it's mentioned in ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' above that Protestants and Catholics each do this when not fighting each other? ''Webcomic/AndShineHeavenNow'' adds Creator/StephenColbert to the Catholic side. (Most of the details are in the pseudo-sequel ''The Eagle of Hermes''.)* In ''Webcomic/ImpureBlood'' [[http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Chapter006/ib035.html Dara's]] BackStory. Before MadeASlave.* The Veiled in ''Webcomic/{{Digger}}'', a military organization devoted to defending [[AllMythsAreTrue all gods]]. Murai puts it nicely:-->'''Murai:''' Our specialties are hand-to-hand combat and comparative theology.* In ''Webcomic/{{Endstone}}'', [[http://endstone.net/comic/4-19-2/ The Nunjas]].* ''Webcomic/GuildedAge'': Our Lady of the Perpetual Bloodshot Eyeball. Their WeaponOfChoice is a long ruler with a blade fixed to it. May also count as ReligionOfEvil.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* ''TabletopGame/TechInfantry'' has the Christian Federation, one of several rebel factions during the Third Civil War. There are also Crusader Teams who hunt Vampires in the Federation, and later in the Middle Kingdom.* ''Roleplay/OpenBlue'' features the Order of Saint Lennox, which is more or less the Avelian Church's Inquisition. Suffice to say, even after the inquisition, they teach their preists (and maybe even nuns) to use a sword or [[DualWielding two... or three... or six...]] This is likely because the Order sends many of its priests off as chaplains on Avelian warships, and in a time of {{pirates}}, you can never be too careful. The Order of Saint Clara trains [[NunsAreMikos nuns]] to fight against black magic and TheLegionsOfHell.* In the Literature/WhateleyUniverse, Petra and the entire Order of the Rose and Thorn, who end up fighting a host of necromancers who are trying to raise an EldritchAbomination. Things escalate, and we find out just how well armed they really are.* The five Cathedrals, in ''Literature/TheGraystoneSaga'', each have their own in-house team of defending soldiers, which makes sense since the Cathedrals are also sort of like royal palaces. Lady Gray, the protagonist, is herself a church militant of some sort, and the presence of the other soldiers seems to have something to do with the fact that she ''exists''.* The Elysium Order in ''Literature/VoidDomain'' are a group of nuns dedicated to eradicating undeath and necromancers. They are fairly extreme in going about their duties.* ''Literature/MaleRising'' has the Papal Legion, a Catholic army created by the Pope during the Great War to fight on his behalf. His announcement led hundreds of thousands of Catholics from across the globe flocking to his banner, and the camaraderie and class erasure formed during the War led to the growth of a non-hierarchical, anti-nationalistic (though not anti-violent) branch of Catholicism among the ranks. Their respective homelands soon had to [[LaResistance grapple with]] [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeVilified a new form]] [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized of populism]] once they returned.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* In ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', the [[ShowWithinAShow fake movie]] ''The Passion Of The Christ 2: Crucify This'' .* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}}'' Jaga's [[TheOrder order]] of Clerics are KungFuWizard[=/=]{{Magic Knight}}s who serve both as keepers of the {{Ancient Tradition}}s of the Book of Omens and a highly trained PraetorianGuard to Thundera's King Claudus.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* The Hashishim, aka UsefulNotes/TheHashshashin, a heretical Ismaili Muslim cult organized by Hasan-i-Sabbah with the goal of overthrowing the Caliphate. They were said to use hashish to induce visions of paradise that the believer would obtain upon his death, though this is considered a myth (especially by the scholar Edward Burman), as the effects of hashish were well known in the Islamic world at the time and any such claims are a later misunderstanding of the sect. The word "assassin" derives from the name of this sect, and derives from Hasan-i-Sabbah's name rather than the word "hashish." Another theory is that the name is "Asasiyun", "those faithful to the foundations" (asa:s) of Islam.* One of many real, OlderThanPrint orders: The original [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar Knights Templar]] (and several other crusading orders established thereafter) were originally intended to be an "order militant" of the Catholic church organized along monastic guidelines entrusted to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar protect]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller provide care for]] Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. However, the Templars gradually grew in power, wealth, and influence to the point that they were largely autonomous of any overseers, whether religious or secular, until the King of France convinced the Pope (who was a virtual captive at Avignon, in French territory) to disband the order and brand them as heretics in 1314 (possibly because he owed them money).* The Knights of the Hospital of St. John (Hospitallers) were not affected by the dissolution of the Templars. They kept fighting from bases on Rhodes and then Malta until they were invaded by Napoleon in 1798. Since then, they have ceased their military activity. They do still, however, exist, and are recognized as a sovereign territory-less state. They even have a few citizens.* The Order of the Teutonic Knights of St. Mary's Hospital in Jerusalem (or [[UsefulNotes/TheTeutonicKnights Teutonic Knights]]) was both a monastic order charged with evangelization and christianisation of pagan teritories, mostly in the Baltic regions, as well as considerable military force and a sovereign Monastic State. They ended up turning themselves into secular nobles when they turned Lutheran, and their military state became UsefulNotes/{{Prussia}}.** Those who did not become Protestants fled to Catholic parts of Germany and reconstituted the order as a more conventional monastic order, which continues to this day.* From about 1378 to 1418, the Catholic Church fought a civil war. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Schism A real civil war.]] With ''actual battles'' and many, ''[[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters many]]'' factions.* The English city of York had some pretty tough Archbishops before the reformation. In 1138, Archbishop Thurstan formed an army at the Battle of the Standard and routed a Scottish army. In 1346, another Archbishop (the fantastically named William La Zouche) defeated a numerically superior Scots invasion at Neville's Cross near Durham. Yet another Archbishop, Richard le Scrope, led an unsuccessful uprising against King Henry IV in 1405. One of Henry VIII's Archbishops, Christopher Bainbridge, ended up going to Italy and besieging the city of Ferrara for the infamous "warrior Pope" Julius II. And this was just one See...** Thurstan didn't actually command the English at the Battle of the Standard (he was in his 70s at the time, pushing towards 80), but he did raise the force and created the famous "standard" - which consisted of the blessed sacrament mounted on a cart with the banners of St Peter (patron of York), St Wilfrid (patron of Ripon) and St John of Beverly (patron of... three guesses). The message to the Scots was clear: by fighting the English they would by virtue of the standard be fighting three saints and ''Jesus Christ himself''. Thurstan's personal representative at the battle was fellow Bishop Radulf Novell, who delivered an inspiring sermon to the English before battle commenced and probably participated himself. All this appears to have had a profound psychological effect on the Scots, who went on to lose badly. Probably at no other point in British history has religion been used so explicitly as a weapon of war.** Another Archbishop of York to take up the sword was William Melton, albeit without much success. In 1319 a Scottish army threatened York, and in particular Queen Isabella of England who had taken up residence there. While the Queen was smuggled out of the city by boat, Archbishop Melton hastily raised a rather small, ragtag army of York residents, which involved a large number of priests and monks from the region. Unsurprisingly, in the ensuing "battle" at Myton-on-Swale they were massacred by the Scots. The sheer number of clergy and religious men involved on the English side led to the battle being nicknamed the "Chapter" of Myton.* Some people accuse Islam to be a religion spread "by a sword in the left hand, and a Qur'an in the right hand". [[{{Flanderization}} While it's not entirely true]], they had reasons for this; their power and fervor is such that they were able to take out the Persians completely and fight toe-to-toe against the Eastern Roman Empire, partially because the Byzantines and Sassanids had worn themselves out by fighting each other over a century.** While the above is partly true (Islamic rule spread rapidly through a strong military force, while the actual conversion took sometimes centuries and was seldom enforced; see the Copts in Egypt)), this can be said for many religions, especially once a regionally dominant power starts to spread it in neighbouring countries, such as, say, the spread of Christianity to the Aztec Empire, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and South and East Asia. * Many non-state forces in the Islamic world, for example Hezbollah, combine civil defense with religious education. Secretary-General Hasan Nasrallah was trained in Iran as a religious scholar. However, at least in Hezbollah's case the religious element takes a backseat to civil defense, social services, and politics some of the time.* The Taliban are this in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They enforce what they say is Islamic with an iron fist and draw their allure from promises of martrydom and heaven (in a country where death is never far away), money (hundreds of dollars in a country where 2USD a day would be good money), and nationalism (in a country that has been seemingly invaded and occupied by every ambitious state in history). They are notorious for not only their brutality, but also for being very tough to extirpate.* Most infamously, Daesh (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) is considered a church militant so extreme that just about everybody else apart from Boko Haram hates them with a passion, even the aforementioned Taliban and Hezbollah, who are known to be terrorist extremists.* In medieval Korea (during the reign of Goryeo Dynasty), there was an official army faction of Buddhist monks, with the badass sounding name of 'the army of Demon repellers'('Hangmagun' in Korean), which fought against Jurchens and Mongolians. The succeeding Joseon Dynasty (which disliked Buddhism due to its Confucian nature) banned these 'Monk Armies'('Seung-byeong', which means the same as Japanese 'sohei'). But later during the 1592 Japanese Invasions, many Buddhist monks took up fighting again as Seung-byeong, and some famous monk-generals such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samyeongdang Samyeongdang]] contributed greatly in driving out the invading Japanese forces. Their names and feats were so well-known that there were many folk legends created about monks being able to use magic and supernatural powers.* In FeudalJapan, prior to the Tokugawas' consolidation of control, there were quite a few orders of {{warrior monk}}s ("sohei"). Many of them were of samurai origins themselves (some were ''ronin,'' others preferred the religious orders to serving a secular lord) and all of them were just as tough customers, and as ferocious, as the samurai. There were full-scale wars between rival temples, and UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu had to put them all down very hard to get the country to be quiet.* The Ikko-Ikki's description up in the Video Games section covers the basics, their beliefs made even their allies hate them. It took UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga three separate sieges to bring down their fortress at Nagashima. He didn't even manage to take it conventionally; the third siege ended when Oda forces managed to surround it and burn it to the ground, including numerous civilians and non-combatants within.* Even in the modern day, Buddhism and Buddhist states have been very resistant to other religions.** In 1990's Bhutan, the government expelled hundreds of thousands to millions of Hindus and non-Buddhists, and still violently resists other faiths.** Currently in Myanmar, the Buddhist majority, guided by monks and permitted by the government, violently riots, demonstrates, and attacks aga the Muslim minority. Many have fled to Bangladesh as a result.** In Sri Lanka, Buddhist monks pressed the government into adopting [[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34589244 more brutal measures against]] the Tamil sympathizers, non Tamils, and [[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/opinion/sri-lankas-violent-buddhists.html non-Buddhists.]]* UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}} is a diverse religion with various sects but historically, it has never shied away from warfare, having a recognized role for the kshatriya (warrior) in the ruling castes of society. In the modern era, the Hindutva RenegadeSplinterFaction, alongside other Hindu right-wing movements such as the Shiv Sena, engaged in widespread communal riots against Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, lower-caste Hindus, women and college girls, [[PersecutedIntellectuals "western" intellectuals]] and historians. One Hindu extremist assassinated UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi, who called him NoTrueScotsman by saying that non-violence isn't part of Hinduism at all, and other groups engaged in the destruction of the Babri Masjid. Such groups often complain about how their temples were destroyed by Muslim invaders while forgetting that Hindu kings [[NotSoDifferent destroyed Buddhist and Jain stupas and temples]], and indeed built their temples on top of those as well. * During the early 20th century, the Catholic Church and the post-revolution Mexican government came into conflict. The Constitution of 1917 had several articles in it that severely limited the power of the church in Mexico, although not all of these were immediately enforced. During the administration of President Plutarco Calles, the government began secularizing education, forcing priests to register with the government, capping the number of priests in the country, and persecuting Catholics that resisted (violently or not). The Church wasn't pleased with this and, after putting the entire Church in Mexico on strike, numerous supporters of the church rose up in arms, calling themselves the Cristeros. The conflict escalated to the point where in 1928, the Mexican government executed José Sánchez del Río, a fifteen-year-old boy who refused to renounce his faith. He and others have been lately recognized as being martyrs.* The Jesuits (the Society of Jesus), one of the many orders of priests in the Catholic Church, were founded in 1534 by a Spanish ex-soldier named Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius had been wounded in battle, and spent the next few years wandering around Spain as an ascetic. Ignatius then decided that he should go become a priest. While studying in Paris, he and six of his militant student-priest friends got together, called themselves the "Company of Jesus" (as in an infantry company), went to Rome, pledged their absolute loyalty to the Pope, and said "let us form an order of priests, and we'll do whatever you want." The title of the papal order that established the Jesuits? ''Regimini militantis Ecclesiae'' -- "To the Government of the [[TitleDrop Church Militant]]." Even today, Jesuit priests take a "Fourth Vow" - in addition to the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience that all Catholic priests make - to do whatever and go wherever the Pope commands them. (Ignatius wrote that he wanted the Jesuits to be "well-disciplined, like a corpse." He wasn't kidding.)** The fourth vow also involves not seeking personal advancement in the Church, and refusing offers of it unless they are absolutely forced to accept, since St. Ignatius really didn't like career clergy.** The more modern lay confraternity, Miles Jesu, actually means "Soldiers of Christ". The Jesuits have been noted to not appreciate the competition, and innumerable conspiracy theories involving the recent Papal investigations into the activities of Miles Jesu have been floated.** The more successful Opus Dei, ("Work of God"), has been able to score major inside positions with recent popes, due to the occasionally "overkill" methods of the Jesuits. The so-called "Black Pope" of the Jesuits (the Father Superior, actually) has been sidelined by the more recently successful Opus Dei counterpart, and time will tell if the Jesuits have truly chilled and outlived their efficacy or some major upset will happen to replace them to their previous position as the "soldiers of Christ".*** Considering that the ''actual'' Pope (Francis) is the first Pope belonging to the Jesuits, it seems they may not be ''that'' far off.* Until the 1960's the Vatican State technically still had an army. And it had a real army until 1870 when the Kingdom of Italy invaded and annexed the Papal States.* To the Catholic Church itself, this has a very specifically defined meaning: the term "Church Militant" actually means "all living Catholics in communion with the Holy See." The other parts being "Church Triumphant" (all souls in heaven) and "Church Suffering" (all souls in Purgatory who are being made ready for heaven). "Church" here means the group of people who are believers, not the building or institution. In other words, all those still alive are fighting a spiritual war, but those who have died and gone to heaven are done with the struggle and have been made victorious by God.* New England Puritans actually ''stored gunpowder'' in their churches. This made wintertime rather difficult as they could not light a furnace.** When the congregation started to disturb the mood by shivering the preacher would shout, "STAND! And hear the word of God!" It is NOT an accident that Battle Hymn of the Republic was written by a New Englander. This is why the Parthenon in Athens is in ruins. The Turks used it as a mosque, and were also storing munitions there in 1687 when a Venetian artilleryman took a potshot at the building, with predictable results.* The British used to say that UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution was "a Presbyterian war". Whatever the religious affiliations of the top brass, the American lower ranks quite often considered themselves a Church Militant.* One British regiment traditionally takes its arms to church with them and posts guards during service. This dates from the time when their regiment was in the service of Scottish Covenanters. According to Bryan Farwell, Highland regiments had a notable level of piety, especially as compared to other British regiments.** In Welsh regiments, soldiers are, to this day, more likely than not to sing hymns on march and not swear.** In Massachusetts Bay Colony, Puritan soldiers often took their guns to church in case of attacks by hostile native tribes while they were attending services.* Just sing [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar Battle Hymn of the Republic]].** Or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Fortress_Is_Our_God Battle Hymn of the Reformation.]]* In a subversion, some of the most Orthodox of Israeli Jews are ambiguous about Israel in the first place and are sometimes accused of being slackers. This is not universal and a number of {{Badass Israeli}}s are quite pious Jews. The Druze in Israel have actually requested to be subject to conscription.* The Salvation Army is commonly seen as a general Protestant charity. However, they are this trope: a church organized along military lines, although the denomination isn't devoted to warfare, but rather aggressively trying to end poverty and help their fellow man. In the youth of the organization, however, the Salvation Army fought a large number of street battles against rival gangs and mobs raised by people not to keen on their radical message.* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1838_Mormon_War The Mormon War.]] Joseph Smith Jr. was once the leader of the militia (especially noteworthy is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion%27s_Camp Zion's Camp]]) and also the prophet and leader of the LDS church. After Smith's assassination, when Brigham Young was prophet and leader of the LDS church they organized the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Battalion Mormon Battalion]], which is the only religious military unit in United States history and was part of the Mexican-American war. When the Church controlled Utah territory, the state militia also served as this. Some members were involved in atrocities against non-Mormons, unfortunately. * UsefulNotes/{{Sikhism}} is famous for this aspect. They express it in a more publicly accepted fashion then some groups, through such means as participation in regular military units and the carrying of symbolic weapons. Defense of the righteous is fairly central to the faith of Sikhism, which is understandable considering their history of being surrounded by militant Islamic factions and equally militant Hindus. They represent only about 2% at most of the Indian population yet make up nearly 15% of the army (and 20% of officers). Indian UN peacekeepers are usually called blue turbans due to the high probability they're Sikh soldiers (most male Sikhs do not cut their hair and keep it in a turban).* According to [[Literature/IClaudius Robert Graves]] in his autobiography ''Goodbye to All That'', during World War I British soldiers preferred Roman Catholic chaplains because not only did they actually visit the men in the trenches but when other officers were killed they would take off their chaplain's tabs and lead the men themselves.* Most armies have chaplains, but the Russian Army is unique in having mobile churches for those chaplains to hold Divine Liturgy in.* The Polish Catholic Church during the UsefulNotes/PolishSovietWar:** Poles were very devout Catholics as well as being very [[PatrioticFervor nationalistic]] and sometimes you get the impression that it is really ''Poland'' that is a Church Militant.** Averted as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jozef_Pilsudski Pilsudski]], the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naczelnik_Panstwa head of state/dictator/commander-in-chief]] at this time, was Protestant (he converted from Catholicism in 1899). He proposed a federation of independent states on the Soviet border - unfortunately it didn't succeed. While it is true that he had opposition and Poland was Catholic, it is less black and white.** The future Pope Pius XI, papal nuncio to Poland, gave services in the trenches outside Warsaw, becoming the first representative of the Vatican to face Christendom's enemies on the battlefield since the Battle of Vienna.** The Tatar Cavalry Regiment was a Polish unit of Muslim soldiers, members of the small Tatar community which had lived in Poland and Lithuania at least since 15th century. In order to find more recruits, the regiment issued an appeal to the Tatar population, calling them to arms in the name of Allah and under the green banner of the Prophet.* A rare positive example is the Second Great Awakening, the religious revival in the United Status in UsefulNotes/AntebellumAmerica, where many preachers and lay Christians became radical anti-racists and abolitionists and played a key role in setting the stage for the end of slavery in America. John Brown was the most famous, repeatedly carrying a Bible and a gun, and marching for abolitionism until his doom at Harper's Ferry. Notably Brown was so firm in his convictions he refused a Chaplain's service in his final hours when he learned that said Chaplain supported slavery. * The Nation of Islam has a standing paramilitary force called the Fruit of Islam. While not armed, they are highly trained in martial arts and military tactics, and act as secondary ministers as well as a security force.* The Salvation Army is a LighterAndSofter variation on this, being basically a Protestant group organized around military lines, though they do not carry weapons or engage in violence, being primarily a charitable organization.